Japan is permitted by the International Whaling Commission to catch Antarctic whales for scientific purposes. The New Zealand and Australian governments have longed argued that Japan catches whales for their meat rather than scientific study. Both countries took Japan to the International Court of Justice in 2013 and the following year the court ruled that Japan's whaling was not scientific and therefore illegal. Despite this Japan said it would continue to catch whales.
Watch this 2007 news item, which includes New Zealand Minister of Conservation Chris Carter, who was outspoken in his opposition to whaling in Antarctic waters.
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Footage courtesy of Greenpeace New Zealand and the New Zealand Defence Force
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